​"We have improved the situation of those in work and intend to continue doing so", in addition to creating more jobs, says Mariano Rajoy

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

In response to a question on job insecurity and the devaluation of wages from the MP for the Socialist Group, Antonio Hernando, the President of the Government underlined that the greatest insecurity in employment terms is an increase in unemployment and a decline in the number of National Insurance contributors.

Along these lines, he pointed out that the reforms carried out by the government have allowed the number of National Insurance contributors to increase by 1,639,000 people in less than three years.

Pool Moncloa / Diego CrespoOn this matter and in response to the MP for the Ciudadanos Group, Albert Rivera, who enquired after the situation of the labour market, Mariano Rajoy recalled that 2015 was the best year on record for job creation in Spain, according to the Labour Force Survey. This is positive and shows that we are "heading in the right direction".

However, the President of the Government acknowledges that there is still a lot to do since the goal is to ensure that there are 20 million Spaniards in work by 2020, working under "the best conditions possible".

Ruling from European Court

As regards the ruling handed down by the European Court that recommends bringing the system of severance pay for temporary replacement workers in line with the system for permanent workers, which the MP for the Ciudadanos Group, Albert Rivera, had enquired after, Mariano Rajoy explained that a working group has been set up with representatives appointed by the trade unions and business associations to study its application in Spain.

Condolences over death of Rita Barberá

Before the start of the first government control session in the Lower House of Parliament of this legislature, the MPs stood for a minute's silence following the death on Wednesday morning of the Member of the Upper House, Rita Barberá.

Upon leaving the plenary session, Mariano Rajoy expressed his condolences in a press briefing over the death of the former Mayor of Valencia and passed on his deepest sympathies to the family of Rita Barberá and to all the members of the People's Party, of which she had been a member.